Brodsky, Michael: my wartime experiences (March 14, 2007)
PublicInterviewee: Brodsky, Michael
ABSTRACT: Michael Brodsky Michael was born in London, England. His father's job brought the family to Canada, where Michael grew up in Nova Scotia and Ontario. His grade 12 education was an asset as Michael was able to join the Royal Canadian Engineers in 1939 in Ottawa. Canada was still feeling the effects of the Depression and, at age 19, he was looking for a job. With his father's British military service in WWI the Army seemed like the thing to do. Within 6 months, Michael was shipped to England to begin sapper (engineer) training. Their transportation between training camps was 'box cars that were built to accommodate 8 horses or 40 men'. On D-Day his Brigade landed in Normandy and fought its way through to Germany. Michael recalls that 'D-Day was marvelously well organized'. What impressed Michael was the bonding between soldiers, and their mutual dependence and trust. A shrapnel wound in the leg did not slow him down. He received the highly prestigious Military Medal, from King George in Buckingham Palace for 'leadership and coolness under fire'. At the start of the Allied Occupation of Germany, Michael volunteered to do service in the Pacific theatre. He returned to Canada aboard the Queen Elizabeth and was to train in the southern USA, when the war ended. He was discharged as a Sergeant. After demobilization, Michael worked for the Federal Government for two years before re-enlisting in the Army in 1947. For the next 22 years he worked as a topographer for the Army Survey Establishment. After his retirement in 1969 Michael worked at various jobs in London, Ontario, until his move to Victoria in 1971. He has been fully retired since 1984. Among the many memories which stand out are seeing starving Dutch people lined up for scraps from Canadian Army kitchens; while on leave seeing half-starved French Prisoners of War returning to France; and horror stories about the Concentration Camps. To this day, Michael feels war is the worst possible way to settle a dispute, although it is not as bad as giving in to a bully. 'In modern warfare, nobody wins'.
An interview/narrative of Michael Brodsky's experiences during World War II. Brodsky served with the Royal Canadian Engineers. Interview took place on March 14, 2007.
Interviewer: Fitch, Edward and Sharon
- In Collection:
- 1 sound recording (MP3)
- 51.5, 10.5
- 48.4359, -123.35155
- Original sound recording (DVF) also available.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- BM_543
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/edward-fitch-collection
- August 28, 2012
- Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 44 kHz. In .mp3 format at 56 kbps and 24 kHz. Interview recorded in digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2012. Migration metadata by KD and MT.
- Rights
- This interview has been posted with the understanding that it may be used for research purposes only. Should the interviewee or their heirs have any objections to this interview being accessible on the Internet, it will be removed promptly. Contact UVic Special Collections for permission if using for other than research purposes: speccoll@uvic.ca
- DOI
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